- In Togo, the government has announced the construction of a multi-purpose dam at Sarakawa, about 22 km northwest of the town of Kara.
- The structure will provide drinking water for some 500,000 people, as well as for agriculture and electricity generation.
Hitech Construction, a Nigerian construction and civil engineering firm, will construct the future water reservoir. The project, which will shortly get underway in Togo’s Sarakawa locale, would make it easier for locals and residents of Kara, a town 22 kilometers northwest of Sarakawa, to get access to water. The Togolese government released a statement on April 15, 2023, announcing the water project.
The Kara River, which originates in the Binah and empties into the Oti River, will be retained by the proposed dam. A portion of the raw water, about 22,000 m3 per day, will be treated before being sent to homes via distribution systems.
The Togolese government estimates that the availability of drinking water will be compromised for at least 500,000 people. The development of 36,000 hectares of agricultural land using the water from the Sarakawa dam will increase crop diversity, agricultural yields, and irrigated agriculture for local populations with a national impact.
Through the utilization of a hydroelectric power plant with two 3500 mm power mains, the new reservoir will also be used to generate electricity. Although the plant’s power production has not been disclosed, it is known that the electricity generated would improve over 400,000 people’s access to electricity. The project will also contribute to reducing the cost of electricity distribution in several sectors such as health, education, technology and agriculture through the processing of agricultural products.